Warsaw Concerto - Richard Addinsell - YouTube Warsaw Concerto - Richard Addinsell Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Oct 20, 2012 Richard Addinsell (1904-1977), born in London, was a prolific British composer of theater and film music, best known for his Warsaw Concerto, composed for the 1941 film 'Dangerous Moonlight' (also known under the later title 'Suicide Squadron'). Addinsell studied law at Oxford and, briefly music at the Royal College of Music in London. He wrote his first theater score in 1928 for the English novelist and playwright Clemence Dane (pseudonym of Winifred Ashton). Addinsell continued collaborating with Dane until her death in 1965. After a break in 1929 for study in Berlin and Vienna, Addinsell returned to London and the theater.

Eva La Gallienne, actress, producer, director, writer and teacher who was for many decades one of the grand figures of the American stage, asked him to score her production of Alice in Wonderland (another Dane project) in 1933. After that, Addinsell continued to write off and on for the stage, but he focused more on film music, scoring such classics as Goodbye Mr. Chips, A Tale of Two Cities, Blithe Spirit, Fire Over England, and Dark Journey, as well as a number of patriotic English documentaries during World War II. Richard Addinsell's most enduring contribution to the repertory, the Warsaw Concerto, was embedded in his score for Dangerous Moonlight (released in the United States as Suicide Squadron). From 1942 Addinsell took occasional time out from his movie work to collaborate with Joyce Grenfell, who was considered in many ways the pioneer of British female comedy, on songs for such London West End revues as Tuppence Colored and Penny Plain, and later for Grenfell's one-woman shows.

Warsaw Concerto for Piano and Orchestra Sometimes a piece of music appears at just the right time and in just the right context to become an indelible part of peoples' experience and memories. So it was with Richard Addinsell's Warsaw Concerto for piano and orchestra—a pastiche of the quintessential romantic piano concerto, composed for use in the 1941 British film Dangerous Moonlight, in which a Polish pianist finds himself caught up in the Battle of Britain. The original idea of the filmmakers (one of whom, Terence Young, would go on to direct three out of the first four James Bond films) was reportedly to use Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.2, Op. 18 as the musical centerpiece of the film, but that idea was ultimately dropped in favor of commissioning a new, Rachmaninov-like piece from Addinsell and orchestrator Roy Douglas.

The music of the Warsaw Concerto is used in the film both as incidental music and as the subject of a performance in the film (a concert worked into the plot); it fills and surrounds each moment, its passion and nostalgia (it was modeled on Rachmaninov, after all) movingly at odds with the horrific reality of life in Britain in 1941. Not at all surprisingly, audiences embraced the Concerto, which soon appeared on record and in sheet music adaptations and arrangements. The Warsaw Concerto is not a full concerto in the usual sense of the word; it is in one movement only. The opening is certainly dramatic enough; the piano enters with a gusto matched perhaps only by the Grieg Piano Concerto's opening plunge; tympani alone supports this first gasp. The second theme, a melody once famous and instantly recognized around the globe, is pure Rachmaninov (its cadence-moment is borrowed straight from the Piano Concerto No.2), but one should not think any less of Addinsell's effort for its unabashed stylistic borrowings. The effort is supremely skillful, the music graceful, and not overly self-indulgent.

It is worth noting that many similar pastiches that appeared in films and on discs over the course of the next two decades have all been basically forgotten, leaving Addinsell's Warsaw Concerto to mark the genre. It helps to remember how desperately the suffering Britons needed a warmth like Rachmaninov's, even as diffused through another composer, in 1941. Warsaw Concerto for Piano and Orchestra Performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Moshe Atzmon, Conductor Warsaw Concerto for piano &… | Details | AllMusic google+ Description by Blair Johnston Sometimes a piece of music appears at just the right time and in just the right context to become an indelible part of peoples' experience and memories. So it was with Richard Addinsell 's Warsaw Concerto for piano and orchestra -- a pastiche of the quintessential romantic piano concerto, composed for use in the 1941 British film Dangerous Moonlight, in which a Polish pianist finds himself caught up in the Battle of Britain.

The original idea of the filmmakers (one of whom, Terence Young, would go on to direct three out of the first four James Bond films) was reportedly to use Rachmaninov 's Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 as the musical centerpiece of the film, but that idea was ultimately dropped in favor of commissioning a new, Rachmaninov -like piece from Addinsell and orchestrator Roy Douglas . The music of the Warsaw Concerto is used in the film both as incidental music and as the subject of a performance in the film (a concert worked into the plot); it fills and surrounds each moment, its passion and nostalgia (it was modeled on Rachmaninov , after all) movingly at odds with the horrific reality of life in Britain in 1941. Not at all surprisingly, audiences embraced the Concerto, which soon appeared on record and in sheet music adaptations and arrangements. The Warsaw Concerto is not a full concerto in the usual sense of the word; it is in one movement only and lasts under ten minutes.

The opening is certainly dramatic enough; the piano enters with a gusto matched perhaps only by the Grieg Piano Concerto's opening plunge; tympani alone supports this first gasp. A deliciously syrupy second theme -- a melody once famous and instantly recognized around the globe -- is pure Rachmaninov (its cadence-moment is borrowed straight from the Piano Concerto No. 2), but one should not think any less of Addinsell 's effort for its unabashed stylistic borrowings. The effort is supremely skillful, the music graceful, and not overly self-indulgent; it is worth noting that many similar pastiches that appeared in films and on discs over the course of the next two decades have all been basically forgotten, leaving Addinsell 's Warsaw Concerto to mark the genre. It helps to remember how desperately the suffering Britons needed a warmth like Rachmaninov 's, even as diffused through another composer, in 1941.

Appears On Richard Addinsell - Listen to Free Music by Richard Addinsell on Pandora Internet Radio Richard Addinsell January 13, 1904 - November 14, 1977 born in Oxford, England, composed during the Modern period A prolific composer of theater and film music, Richard Addinsell is now remembered as a one-hit wonder, the composer of the lush, faux-Rachmaninov one-movement Warsaw Concerto for piano and orchestra. Addinsell studied law at Oxford and, briefly (1925-1926), music at the Royal College of Music in London. He wrote his first theater score for Clemence Dane's Come of Age or Adam's Opera in 1928; Addinsell continued collaborating with Dane until her death in 1965. After a break in 1929 for study in Berlin and Vienna, Addinsell returned to London and the theater. Eva La Gallienne asked him to score her production of Alice in Wonderland (another Dane project) in 1933.

After that, Addinsell continued to write off and on for the stage, but he focused more on film music, scoring such classics as Goodbye Mr. Chips, A Tale of Two Cities, Blithe Spirit, Fire Over England, and Dark Journey, as well as a number of patriotic English documentaries during World War II. Addinsell's most enduring contribution to the repertory, the Warsaw Concerto, was embedded in his score for Dangerous Moonlight (released in the United States as Suicide Squadron). From 1942 Addinsell took occasional time out from his movie work to collaborate with Joyce Grenfell on songs for such London West End revues as Tuppence Colored and Penny Plain, and later for Grenfell's one-woman shows. ~ James Reel, Rovi Suicide Squadron (1941) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error During World War II, an American newswoman falls for a Polish piano virtuoso...who wants to go back and fight.

Director: 15 October 2014 10:49 AM, -08:00 | Collider.com Around The Web a list of 6260 titles created 04 Feb 2012 a list of 125 titles created 05 Apr 2013 a list of 417 titles created 02 Jan 2015 a list of 203 titles created 10 months ago a list of 41 titles created 7 months ago Search for " Suicide Squadron " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Add Image Add an image Do you have any images for this title? Larry Baker is a young fireman whose daring exploits have led him to receiving a lot of newspaper publicity which goes to his head. His sweetheart, Mary O'Connor, and fire-department ... See full summary » Director: Bernard B. Ray The San Demetrio of the title is a British merchant ship in an Atlantic convoy in 1940.

Disabled and left to the mercy of patrolling U-boats the crew must keep her afloat and out of harms ... See full summary » Directors: Charles Frend, Robert Hamer Stars: Arthur Young, Walter Fitzgerald, Ralph Michael Narrowly avoiding jail, new dad Robbie vows to turn over a new leaf. A visit to a whisky distillery inspires him and his mates to seek a way out of their hopeless lives. Director: Ken Loach When Nazi anti-aircraft fire damages a British bomber, its crew bails out and seeks help from the Dutch underground. Directors: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger Stars: Godfrey Tearle, Eric Portman, Hugh Williams Work has been going with a bang for freelance assassin Hawkins but a job in England just after the war is a different matter. His apparently easy target, a pompous government minister, is ... See full summary » Directors: Robert Day, Basil Dearden Stars: Alastair Sim, George Cole, Terry-Thomas The story of an RAF fighter squadron at the height of the Battle of Britain.

Director: George More O'Ferrall During the depression in England, a young lady from Lancashire decides to be a rich bookmaker's mistress, just to help the rest of her family who are unemployed. Director: John Baxter Edit Storyline Prologue: in 1940, a shellshocked man fights to recall his past. Flashback: During the Nazi invasion of Poland, American reporter Carole Peters meets Polish airman Stefan Radetzky, also a piano virtuoso. Stefan is among the last to escape Warsaw; months later, in New York, he and Carole meet again, and marry. But the thought of his going back to fight is not only personally terrifying to Carole, but seems a great waste of his musical talent... Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu> 20 April 1942 (USA) See more » Also Known As: Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Sound System) Color: Did You Know? Trivia Anton Walbrook had aspirations as a classical pianist in real life so his hands are shown playing the piano. However, the piano part as heard was recorded by an uncredited Louis Kentner .

See more » Goofs The in-flight close up of a German bomber over England is a reversed shot as indicated by the plane's registration letters. See more » Crazy Credits Opening credits prologue: LONDON NOVEMBER 1940 See more » Connections Played on piano by Anton Walbrook (dubbed by Louis Kentner ) Played as background music when Stefan retrieves Mike's belongings Flashback of Polish war pilot,starting and ending with struggle to recall concerto. 9 August 2001 | by saustin (Anchorage,Alaska.) – See all my reviews Opens in UK hospital with Walbrook as war-injured Polish officer agonising over recall of composition:flashback to meeting with N.Y. news correspondent (who quickly supplants US with UK accent) Sally Gray(actress's name) as he ruminates over concerto composition.Further recall to selection by Air pilots' squad to come to US to garner funds for Poland in 1940.Wrenching decision to return East and and as RAF pilot runs out of ammunition and wilfully crashes into German bomber,bringing us back to original scene in hospital room.

Conflicts developed very nicely:between hero and other pilots;between hero and close friend over the heroine;between hero and wife about return to UK;and within himself over his future mission:to stay fundraising in US or join RAF.Goes without saying about excellent haunting" Warsaw Concerto" excellently played,very moody amd evocative. When this film came out in '41 the Concerto was criticised as a copy of Grieg's p.concerto in A mi., or Tchaikowski's 2nd in C. All the same it is worth several viewings. 14 of 18 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes Suicide Squadron Reviews & Ratings - IMDb IMDb 32 out of 36 people found the following review useful: Nice Music, Shame About the Film from Tunbridge Wells, England 14 April 2005 An article in a British newspaper recently referred to this film not by its correct title but as "The Warsaw Concerto". (No film of that title has ever been made). This perhaps illustrates how the film's reputation has been eclipsed by that of its famous theme music.

Richard Addinsell's music, later elaborated into a real concert piece, is still to be found in the classical repertoire more than sixty years after it was written, but the film has largely been forgotten. This is not really surprising, as the film itself is not all that good. It is a standard wartime combination of romance and propaganda. Sometimes, as with "Casablanca", this formula could result in a classic film of lasting quality, but "Dangerous Moonlight" is not in the same class. The central character, Stefan Radetzky, is a world-famous Polish pianist and composer, who also holds a commission as a fighter pilot in his country's air force. Following the German invasion of Poland, Radetzky escapes to America where he pursues his career as a concert pianist and also falls in love with, and marries, a beautiful female journalist. Tensions in the marriage arise when Radetzky decides that it is his patriotic duty to travel to Britain and to join the Polish air squadron which has been created to continue the struggle against Nazism. His wife, however, feels that his place is to remain in America with her. The film's propaganda function was twofold.

Its makers aimed not only to keep up morale in Britain by highlighting the contribution to the war effort of our Polish allies, but also to influence public opinion in still-neutral America. The brilliant musician Radetzky stands as a symbol of that European high culture that was in danger from Nazi barbarism. The isolationist position of many Americans is made to look selfish and short-sighted. This position is adopted for a time by Radetzky's American wife Carol, until she comes to understand that her husband's duty is to fight for his country and that hers is to support him in that fight. Like many propaganda films of the time, this one was obviously made quickly and on a small budget. The acting is not distinguished and the sets, such as the bombed ruins of Warsaw, are clearly artificial. One thing that is, however, surprisingly good is the scenes of aerial combat; I have heard it suggested that genuine footage of dogfights was used. Apart from the music, however, this is not really a memorable film. 6/10 (5/10 for the film, with a bonus point for the music). A couple of goofs. The hero's surname was obviously chosen for its musical associations, but the normal Polish spelling would be Radecki.

Radetzky is a Germanised form; Strauss's famous march was named after an Austrian general. At one point during the dogfight scenes we see a German bomber with its identification letters the wrong way round; these frames had obviously been inverted. Was the above review useful to you? 21 out of 22 people found the following review useful: War time morale booster is dated now but music survives from Toronto, Canada 17 August 2000 This romantic story of a Polish concert pianist/fighter pilot was never really very good. The dialog is often less than sparkling, the sets tend to look cheap and the few outdoor shots are often just painted backgrounds. There is an impressive shot of Spitfires taking off to do battle but the climatic dog fight is rather poorly choreographed. The script is rather lumbering with a couple of non too subtle nudges at American, Irish neutrality. Anton Wallbrook as the pianist is his usual suave self, only sometimes he is not too convincing when he is supposed to be playing the piano, also I am sure that no refined European gentleman would have a conversation with a lady (especially one as beautiful as Sally Gray) with a cigarette dangling from his lips. That was probably the director's fault.

What makes this film memorable of course is the music. One of the most famous movie scores in history. Even now "The Warsaw Concerto" is a standard item on pop-classical concerts. Just a few words about Sally Gray. She was one of the most beautiful and seductive actresses in British movies during the forties who was generally wasted in her roles. Perhaps it was her personal choice but I was surprised that she was never snapped up by Hollywood. I always thought what a great Hitchcock heroine she would have made. Alas, it never happened. Was the above review useful to you? 20 out of 22 people found the following review useful: Some of the best music to come out of England! from Cedar Rapids, Iowa 28 March 2000 "Dangerous Moonlight" is one of those movies that catches one by surprise. I was working in my home office one night when I started hearing this piano music coming from the living room television. Enjoying it so much, I quit working and went in to listen and then to watch. Then after checking the television schedule, I set the VCR and taped the movie. I have since watched the movie several times and continue to enjoy it.

Anton Wallenbrook plays his part quite well and gives one a very interesting story of talent and guilt. Sally Gray makes an equally good performance as a normal insensitive American lady reporter who does not understand the implications of war. Derrick DeMarney is also good as the best friend of Stefan Radetsky, by being his conscience and confidant. You can enjoy this movie watching it once, but don't cheat yourself, watch it a few times. Was the above review useful to you? 14 out of 18 people found the following review useful: Flashback of Polish war pilot,starting and ending with struggle to recall concerto. from Anchorage, Alaska. 9 August 2001 Opens in UK hospital with Walbrook as war-injured Polish officer agonising over recall of composition:flashback to meeting with N.Y.

news correspondent (who quickly supplants US with UK accent) Sally Gray(actress's name) as he ruminates over concerto composition.Further recall to selection by Air pilots' squad to come to US to garner funds for Poland in 1940.Wrenching decision to return East and and as RAF pilot runs out of ammunition and wilfully crashes into German bomber,bringing us back to original scene in hospital room. Conflicts developed very nicely:between hero and other pilots;between hero and close friend over the heroine;between hero and wife about return to UK;and within himself over his future mission:to stay fundraising in US or join RAF.Goes without saying about excellent haunting" Warsaw Concerto" excellently played,very moody amd evocative. When this film came out in '41 the Concerto was criticised as a copy of Grieg's p.concerto in A mi., or Tchaikowski's 2nd in C. All the same it is worth several viewings. Was the above review useful to you?

17 out of 25 people found the following review useful: proposterous British war romance from United Kingdom 17 June 2003 This film is the one which introduced the 'Warsaw Concerto', one of those almost classical pieces ('The Dream of Olwen' is the other major one) which are effective and burrow their way into your consciousness. Anton Walbrook is traumatised by something that happened when he was a flyer, and Sally Gray is the love interest who is trying to get him back. The performances are finely tuned but really it is the music which is the star. The film itself is typical of its type, over-dramatised British 40s drama at its worst. As such it is watchable but far from great! Was the above review useful to you? 13 out of 19 people found the following review useful: A DVD With Subtitles Would Help This One from United States 6 October 2007 This is another case where if this movie was available on DVD with English subtitles, I might enjoy it.

As it was, seeing it on VHS I had to strain to understand half the dialog of Anton Walbrook, who plays a Polish man, "Steve Radetzky." His combination British-Polish accent was tough to decipher and it totally takes away from enjoying the film. Also a warning for those who read on the VHS box about the "great action scenes." Those don't take place until the very end of the movie! It's hardly a great film to begin with, with a very dated look to it with the hokey backgrounds scenes somewhat cheap production values. One thing that is not cheap or dated: the fine music. Our main character is a pianist as few people ever complain listening to someone play "The Warsaw Concerto." I've also never complained looking at Sally Gray's face! However, your best bet is to buy the CD for the music and skip the film, although at slightly over an-hour-and-a-half, it's not a long film one has to endure to get through....but don't expect a lot of excitement here. Was the above review useful to you?

7 out of 8 people found the following review useful: Propaganda film made fast, on the cheap, but with beautiful music from United States 13 April 2010 Anton Walbrook and Sally Gray fall in love in "Dangerous Moonlight," a 1941 British film also starring Derrick Marney. The story is told in flashback. When we first meet the famous Polish pianist-composer Stefan Radetzky (Walbrook), he is an amnesia victim to whom the doctors have given a piano in the hopes that he will remember something. We then see what brought him to this point. He is a fighter pilot who first meets Carol (Sally Gray), a beautiful American reporter, in Warsaw while he is grounded. There is an instant attraction; six months later, when the Germans have invaded Poland, Radetzky comes to America to give concerts in order to raise money for Polish refugees. He and Carol meet again and decide to get married. He finally decides to go back and fight, but Carol doesn't want him to leave.

Sally Gray had a nervous breakdown after this movie that kept her off the screen for five years, but I doubt it had anything to do with "Dangerous Moonlight." Later on, she became a Baroness and retired, even turning down an offer from Hollywood. She's lovely in the film, though doesn't make much of a stab at an American accent. Given that the character comes from money, though, her accent is probably fine, as young women in the better schools were taught that British-type accent anyway. Anton Walbrook is very suave and attractive. This is a propaganda film that seems to have dashed out without much of an eye to detail - it has German planes flying upside down, and I doubt very much if "Radetzky" spelled that way is Polish. The goal of the film was to keep up morale and also to encourage the U.S. to stop its policy of isolationism. Since it wasn't released in the U.S. until April of 1942, England had already gotten its wish. What makes "Dangerous Moonlight" memorable is the music, notably the Warsaw Concerto, purportedly written by Radetzky, in reality written by Richard Addinsell.

Pianist Louis Kentner dubbed the piano for Walbrook and plays the Chopin Polonaise as well. The Warsaw Concerto is very haunting music, just beautiful. If you're not familiar with Sally Gray, and you like beautiful music, you might want to check out this film. As a bit of trivia, the Beatles song "A Day in the Life" was actually written about Sally Gray's stepson, who apparently crashed John Lennon's car. Was the above review useful to you? 10 out of 15 people found the following review useful: Pianist/Pilot fights remembering war memories. from jefferson city, MO 7 March 2000 Without a doubt, the very best film music ever composed. All Warsaw Concerto fans should purchase this movie because there are other musical motifs present in the film score which are not present in the printed score for piano and orchestra. You will be mesmerized by the music alone and won't be paying much attention to the film. The film is somewhat mediocre. Bravo to Richard Addinsell! Was the above review useful to you?

3 out of 5 people found the following review useful: Only dangerous if taken seriously 13 April 2010 *** This review may contain spoilers *** ***SPOILERS*** Off the wall British WWII propaganda movie that has Polish musical whiz composer and pianist Stefan, or just call me Steve for short, Radetzky (Anton Warbook) give up the good life of traveling around the world, that still isn't controlled by Nazi Germany, giving concerts for Polish relief. Steve instead is all fired up to join the famed Polish "Suicide Squadron", the films original title, back in Britain to participate against the German Luftwaffe in the "Battle of Britain". We already know what the outcome of Steve's contribution as a Polish suicide or kamikaze pilot was by seeing the totally out of touch with reality Steve in a London hospital room in the fall of 1940. It's there that Steve for hours at a time mindlessly bangs away at a piano, that was provided for him by the hospital staff, thus keeping everyone, doctors nurses and patients, there form getting their much needed sleep! With the hospital and the surrounding neighborhood suffering from around the clock bombings by the German Luftwaffe!

It's then that we, in a long long flashback, get to see what were the reasons for Steve's mental deterioration that started a year ago when the Germans invaded his homeland Poland in September 1939. That's when Steve's now estranged wife American newspaper reporter and classical music lover Carol Peters, Sally Gray, ran into Steve in bombed out Warsaw playing a piano as if, with bombs falling all around him, he doesn't have a care in the world. This strange scene gets even stranger when Carol, shocked at Steve's strange behavior, tells the what looks like completely out of it piano player how he could be so flippant while his country is totally in flames. An outraged Steve, finally showing some emotion, reminds Carol that with no petrol left in the country how could he, a polish airman, be able to take off and battle it out with the hated Germans when his plane's gas tank is completely empty! It's then as if a miracle happened there comes the news that there are some 30 planes available with full gas tanks to both fly west on a suicide mission into the German heartland or fly east to neutral, at the time, Romania to await further instructions from the Polish Government in Exile!

It comes as no surprise that Steve is chosen by lot to be the lucky, or unlucky in Steve's case, guy to be one of two Polish airman to take a flight out of harms way into friendly Romania! What Steve didn't know at the time is that the drawing was fixed in his favor to keep him the great Stefan "Steve" Radetzky, a Polish natural treasure, from getting himself, together with his great musical talents, killed in the war. It was determined by higher ups, from Prime Minister Winston Churchill on down, in the British Government that Steve would be a much better weapon against the Nazis in him going around the world giving concerts to inspire people to support the war instead of him risking his life in fighting it. It's in Americia while giving a concert in New York City that Steven is reunited with Carol, who at first he didn't recognize, and the two musical lovebirds are married in what seemed like before the day is even over!

Supposedly, with a title like "Suicide Squadron", a war movie we finally get to see some action, air to air combat over the British skies, with a really charged up Steve dropping both his music and Carol, who now wants him to stay behind the lines and not risk his life fighting the Nazis, and go join his beloved "Suicide Squadron" that's now attached to the British RAF in the life and death battle with the German Luftwaffe in the "Battle of Britain". ***SPOILERS*** After waiting for almost the entire movie to get to see some war action the films action sequence, that lasted about three minutes, was not only boring but mindless as well. Steve now airborne with a set of ill fitting pilot goggles, that make his look as if he were crossed-eyed, engages the enemy knocking two Nazi fighter planes out of the sky with his fighter plane's machine gun but also slamming into a slow moving Nazi attack bomber, kamikaze style, before it could drop it's bombs on an RAF airfield. Of course, as we saw at the beginning of the movie, Steve survived the carnage almost unscathed with only a slight loss of memory for all his troubles in trying to unsuccessfully kill himself for Poland.

The ending is about as corny as it can get in this very corny film with Carol suddenly showing up unexpectedly at Steve's hospital room where his memory miraculously recovers as he finally gets his Mojo, piano playing ability, back! Now a totally cured and rejuvenated Steve start to knock out his masterpiece that he composed while under the gun in far off Warsaw over a year ago: "The Warsaw Concerto"! Was the above review useful to you? 1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Outstanding music, not-so-good a film from United Kingdom 28 July 2015 Dangerous Moonlight is one of those almost completely forgotten films, apart from the music, and tracking the film down for the first time it is not particularly hard to see why that is. The music by Richard Addinsell is the one component that people remember about the film, and it is also the best and only outstanding element about it. The Warsaw Concerto is very popular, is a concert show-piece and is still heard on the radio a lot, and judging from the hauntingly stirring and quite oddly beautiful way it's written for good reason too.

Anton Walbrook is typically suave (though this is a long way from being one of his better performances), while lovely Sally Gray brings some poignancy to her role and Derrick DeMarnay is a suitably sympathetic confidant, his chemistry with Walbrook being particularly strong. The film is sometimes moving, and the aerial combat sequences are quite good. On the other hand, Dangerous Moonlight was apparently made quickly and cheaply and it shows in some less than smooth photography, some choppy editing (like in the climatic dog fight) and some clearly artificial-looking sets. The script is lumbering and heavy-handed with some ham-fisted melodrama (Walbrook's dialogue is not always easy to understand too), the sometimes moving but thin story is really quite dull, over-dramatised and little more than nonsensical and heavy-handed propaganda, the film is routinely directed and the climatic dog fight agreed is choreographed pretty poorly. Apart from the three leads the rest of the acting is either wooden or overwrought, and Walbrook and Gray's chemistry while sometimes affecting doesn't ignite as well as it could have done. In conclusion, loved Addinsell's music, but Dangerous Moonlight as a film on the whole left me cold.

5/10 Bethany Cox Was the above review useful to you? Page 1 of 2: ‎Dangerous Moonlight (1941) directed by Brian Desmond Hurst • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd Review by Matt Thomas ★★½ Rather formulaic wartime drama which lacks a coherent storyline running through it. The alternative title (Suicide Squadron) hints at what could have been a more interesting plot, but the film never really gets to explore it deeply enough to be any more interesting than any other WWII story. Anton Walbrook is the definition of debonair - but he obviously can't play the piano! Review by loureviews ★★★ This film is the one which introduced the 'Warsaw Concerto', one of those almost classical pieces ('The Dream of Olwen' is the other major one) which are effective and burrow their way into your consciousness. Anton Walbrook is traumatised by something that happened when he was a flyer, and Sally Gray is the love interest who is trying to get him back. The performances are finely tuned but really it is the music which is the star.

The film itself is typical of its type, over-dramatised British 40s drama at its worst. As such it is watchable but far from great! Movie Concertos Program 32 "Movie Concertos" MUSIC: Theme from "The Cornish Rhapsody" by Hubert Bath from Love Story [Élan Recordings CD 82268, track 4] under FLAXMAN: There are lots of concertos for piano and orchestra, of course. But there are also a number of mini-concertos written for piano, orchestra and the movies! Most of these come from the 1940s, and most of them are written in the same romantic, Rachmaninov-like style. We'll here the most famous of these during the next hour. MUSIC: ends FLAXMAN: Hello and welcome to Compact Discoveries. I'm your guide, Fred Flaxman, and I call this program "Movie Concertos." Music composed or adapted to accompany the action in motion pictures became a major art form in the 20th Century and a new expressive outlet for composers.

Music was a part of movies even in the early days of silent films, when it was played by a pianist, organist or even a small orchestra to accompany the film. By the 1930s and 40s, when pictures had soundtracks, important composers were attracted to the medium such as Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Kabalevsky in Russia; Milhaud, Auric and Honegger in France; Bliss, Walton, Bax and Vaughan Williams in England; and Korngold, Newman and Copland in America. In addition to serving as background music, almost subliminally heightening the emotional reaction to the scene, film music occasionally spawned foreground solo instrumental and orchestral music, including mini piano concertos which went on to become popular in the concert hall. One of the earliest and most popular of the movie concertos was Richard Addinsell's Warsaw Concerto, which was an integral part of the English film, Dangerous Moonlight, made in 1941. The wartime plot deals with the problems of a Polish pianist who, after escaping from the Nazis, loses his memory while flying in the Battle of Britain.

Addinsell was educated at Oxford and wrote many works for the stage and screen, but today he appears to be a one-hit composer, and the Warsaw Concerto was that hit. MUSIC: Addinsell: Warsaw Concerto, from "Dangerous Moonlight," performed by Santiago Rodriguez, piano, with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra conducted by William Hudson [Élan CD 82268, track 1] [7:55] FLAXMAN: Richard Addinsell's Warsaw Concerto, performed by pianist Santiago Rodriguez with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra conducted by William Hudson. This was my first selection on this Compact Discoveries program devoted to "Movie Concertos." All of my selections in this hour come from the same compact discovery. It is an Élan Recording made in 1995 in the concert hall of the George Mason University Center for the Arts in Fairfax, Virginia. It is called "Piano in Hollywood: The Classic Movie Concertos." The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, Santiago Rodriguez and William Hudson are the performers throughout the CD. The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra was celebrating its 39th season when this recording was made, and William Hudson was in his 25th season as its music director.

Santiago Rodriguez made his concert debut at the age of 10 with the New Orleans Philharmonic, following his immigration to the United States from Cuba. His international career was launched in 1981 when he won the Silver Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Since then he has performed with leading orchestras and in solo recitals throughout the world, made several recordings for Élan, and appeared on CBS, ABC, NBC, PBS, CNN and the CBC television networks. The 1951 Swedish-French movie, "Gypsy Fury," includes Charles Wildman's Swedish Rhapsody. The film tells the tale of a nobleman who forsakes his royal life to marry a beautiful gypsy, played by Viveca Lindfors, in whose memory this compact disc is dedicated. MUSIC: Wildman: Swedish Rhapsody, performed by Santiago Rodriguez, piano, with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra conducted by William Hudson [Élan CD 82268, track 2] [8:09] FLAXMAN: Charles Wildman's Swedish Rhapsody, performed by Santiago Rodriguez, piano, with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra conducted by William Hudson. You are listening to Compact Discoveries.

I'm your guide, Fred Flaxman, and this hour is devoted to mini piano concertos written especially for the movies, mostly in the 1940s. Our next example is from 1945. It is from the movie "Spellbound," which was directed by Alfred Hitchcock and produced by David O. Selznick. The music is by Miklos Rozsa [MEE-klohsh ROH-zhah], and is called, logically enough, the Spellbound Concerto. The movie was nominated for Academy Awards for best picture, best director, best photography, best supporting actor, and best film score. The only winner was Miklos Rozsa for best film score. MUSIC: Rozsa: Spellbound Concerto, performed by Santiago Rodriguez, piano, with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra conducted by William Hudson [Élan CD 82268, track 3] [11:41] FLAXMAN: Miklos Rozsa's Spellbound Concerto, performed by Santiago Rodriguez at the piano with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra conducted by William Hudson.

In case you just joined us, we are listening to mini piano concertos written especially for the movies, mostly during the 1940s when the romantic piano concerto medium was the perfect accompaniment to the romantic movies of the period. A perfect case in point is the 1944 film, "Love Story," set in Cornwall, England during World War II. It is about a half-blind airman who falls in love with a pianist with heart problems. The movie enjoyed an extended life beyond its initial tear-jerker period because of the Cornish Rhapsody by Hubert Bath, who was a product of the Royal Academy of Music in London. MUSIC: Bath: Cornish Rhapsody, performed by Santiago Rodriguez, piano, with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra conducted by William Hudson [Élan CD 82268, track 4] [5:50] FLAXMAN: Hubert Bath's Cornish Rhapsody from the 1944 movie, "Love Story." This performance was by Santiago Rodriguez at the piano, with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra conducted by William Hudson. I'm Fred Flaxman and you are listening to Compact Discoveries.

Our particular discovery today is an Élan CD which is called 'Piano in Hollywood: The Classic Movie Concertos." It contains all the music you'll hear in this hour, and then some. Most of my comments about the music are based on the informative program notes by Sam DiBonaventura which accompany the CD. Next we'll listen to an excerpt from the Piano Concerto from the 1947 film, "Night Song," by Leith Stevens. The movie stars Dana Andrews and Merle Oberon. The musical high point is the appearance on screen of Arthur Rubinstein and Eugene Ormandy performing a piano concerto by the fictitious composer, played by Andrews, while his secret benefactress, played by Oberon, sits teary-eyed in the audience. The main melody of this concerto is also heard in the song Memory of Love, with music by Leith Stevens and lyrics by Jack Brooks. After the release of the film, Stevens made sketches for an expanded version of the concerto. Among these sketches - marked "A" and "B" by the composer - is a haunting piano solo which was intended for the central section of the new longer version of the concerto.

Santiago Rodriguez, the pianist in this recording, incorporated this solo into this recording of the original film version of the work, since, in his view, it helps introduce the musical material of the section which immediately follows. MUSIC: excerpt from Leith Stevens: Piano Concerto, performed by Santiago Rodriguez, piano, with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra conducted by William Hudson [Élan CD 82268, track 6] [excerpt] FLAXMAN: An excerpt from the Leith Stevens Piano Concerto from the 1947 film "Night Song." It was performed by pianist Santiago Rodriguez with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra conducted by William Hudson. We are listening to made-for-movies mini piano concertos on this hour of Compact Discoveries. I'm your guide, Fred Flaxman. The next one is by Edward Ward and it's from the 1943 version of "Phantom of the Opera." The film starred Claude Rains as Erique Claudin - the Phantom - a violinist-composer who writes a piano concerto. Ironically, this concerto proves to be the cause of his facial disfigurement.

During a struggle with a dishonest publisher to whom he had given the manuscript of the concerto, Claudin gets sprayed in the face with acid. He runs away in pain and accidentally falls into the surging waters of a canal, eventually surfacing in the catacomb-like Parisian underground. In the climactic scene of the movie, none other than Franz Liszt is coaxed by the authorities into performing the concerto to draw the Phantom out of his hideaway. The Phantom, hearing his music, gives himself away by pounding out the piano part of his immaculately tuned concert grand which he, somehow, has managed to procure and transport to his cozy hideaway. Christine, played by Susanna Foster, who has been forced by then to set up house in the Phantom cave, impolitely interrupts the ecstasy of the concerto performance by removing the Phantom's mask. Anatole, played by Nelson Eddy, her love interest, comes to the rescue as ceilings and walls begin to crumble around the Phantom. Unfortunately for the music-loving public, it also brings this beautiful piano concerto to an abrupt end in the film!

Santiago Rodriguez, the pianist in this recording, reconstructed the score of the concerto as far as it is heard in the film and then he took the phantom-like liberty of composing the ending you don't hear in the movie. MUSIC: Edward Ward: Piano Concerto, performed by Santiago Rodriguez, piano, with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra conducted by William Hudson [Élan CD 82268, track 7] [5:34] FLAXMAN: The Piano Concerto by Edward Ward written for the 1943 film version of "The Phantom of the Opera." Once again we heard Santiago Rodriguez with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra conducted by William Hudson. MUSIC: George Gershwin: New York Rhapsody from "Delicious" performed by Santiago Rodriguez, piano, with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra conducted by William Hudson [Élan CD 82268, track 5] under [excerpt] FLAXMAN: There is one other mini piano concerto on this CD. The piece is from a now forgotten movie called "Delicious," which was made in 1931. The composer, however, will never be forgotten: George Gershwin.

The script was unusual in that, in addition to songs, it called for an extended orchestral sequence depicting New York City life. For this Gershwin composed what was at first called the New York Rhapsody, but which was also known as the Rhapsody of Rivets, because of the opening motive which portrays riveters working on skyscrapers. Later Gershwin decided to expand the piece into a full-scale composition for orchestra with solo piano. After a privately funded performance in 1931, the Second Rhapsody - its final title - was premiered in Boston in January of the next year by Sergei Koussevitsky. MUSIC: fades out FLAXMAN: The final cut on this CD is labeled as an encore because, although it contains a piano and was written for the movies, there is no orchestra. In addition, in the 1978 movie, "The Deer Hunter," this piece was played at the very end of the film by John Williams on a guitar, not a piano. So it doesn't exactly fit my "Movie Concertos" theme, but it is so pretty, I'm going to play it for you anyway. The music is called Cavatina and it is by Stanley Myers.

MUSIC: Stanley Myers: Cavatina from "The Deer Hunter" performed by Santiago Rodriguez, piano, with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra conducted by William Hudson [Élan CD 82268, track 8] [4:28] FLAXMAN: Cavatina from 1978 film, "The Deer Hunter." The music is by Stanley Myers. It was performed by the Cuban-American pianist Santiago Rodriguez. MUSIC: Theme from the Warsaw Concerto by Richard Addinsell performed by Santiago Rodriguez, piano, with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra conducted by William Hudson [Élan CD 82268, track 1] under FLAXMAN: This is Fred Flaxman thanking you for joining me for this Compact Discoveries program. I hope you'll be with me again next time and that you'll check out the Compact Discoveries website at There you will find a series of Compact Discoveries articles and other material which you might find of interest. Your reaction to this program and to this series in general would be greatly appreciated. You may write me in care of this station or e-mail me at compactdiscoveries@fredflaxman.com.

Compact Discoveries is produced and presented by Fred Flaxman, and is a production of WXEL-FM, West Palm Beach, Florida. MUSIC: fades out at 58:00 Film Music: BBC Philharmonic; Gamba, Addinsell; Lane; Sharples: Amazon.ca: Music By Jeffrey Lee on Dec 8 2003 Format: Audio CD This cd is one of a series of film music productions by Chandos. Others include the works of Vaughan Williams, Dmitri Shostakovich, Malcolm Arnold, Nino Rota etc. All are conducted by Rumon Gamba with the BBC Philharmonic. If this disc containing the music of Richard Addinsell is any indication of what to expect from the others, then, indeed, the series may constitute a very fine one. The playing is excellent---clear, dynamic, tuneful, just right, sentimentally speaking , and atmospheric in the usual motion picture soundtrack manner. The recorded sound aids significantly in sustaining the favorable overall impression. The Warsaw Concerto (from "Dangerous Moonlight") is probably the best known piece here, however melodies from a number of the other works provide a very welcome measure of enjoyment. The Suite from "Goodbye Mr.

Chips" is particularly lovely and memorable. "Love on the Dole" offers a charming elegance. "The Black Rose" , which starred Tyrone Power, has an open air spirit of exoticism and adventure. The wonderful "Scrooge" music restores the vivid memories associated with Alastair Sim's outstanding and deservedly famous portrayal of the title character. There is a moving tune, which is played in the movie during a meeting between Scrooge, as a young man , and his ill fated sister. It also appears when Scrooge visits his nephew to seek forgiveness and acceptance after he has learned a lesson from the three spirits that he will never forget. Though the Suite runs for fourteen minutes, one still wishes for more...The Overture from "Tom Brown's Schooldays" is both pleasantly playful and nostalgic. (Oh how that violin sometimes brings tears to one's eyes.)... Read more › 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback... Thank you for your feedback. Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again. 4.0 out of 5 stars Suite from "Scrooge" Jan. 20 2014 By Duane W.

Smart - Published on Amazon.com Format: Audio CD Verified Purchase I was thrilled to discover a cd that included the music used in the 1951 Alastair Sim version of "Scrooge". Sadly, one very important piece of music from the film was not included in the suite. It is the music played when Scrooge shows up at his nephew's home for Christmas. They all dance to a lively tune. That is the music I truly wanted. Overall, the recording quality is excellent and other selections on the cd are enjoyable. 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Question: Richard Addinsell's most famous piece of music was used in the 1941 film 'Dangerous Moonlight', what is its title?
Answer: Warsaw Concerto